Hemerocallis plant named ‘SPd 06-01’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hemerocallis  named ‘SPd 06-01’, characterized by its flowers that are coral pink in color with rosy-red eyezones and green throats, its flowers that fully open under cool growing conditions and are self cleaning, its flower petals that are broadly elliptic in shape, heavy in substance, and have lightly ruffed edges, its blooming habit that commences very early in the season with continuous rebloom until frost on recurrent, branched scapes with high bud counts, its foliage that is evergreen, semi-evergreen or dormant depending on the growing climate with suitability in a variety of growing climates, its compact plant habit with grass-like foliage, its fast multiplication rate, and its hardiness at least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 11, and its high tolerance to daylily rust.

Botanical classification: Hemerocallis hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘SPd 06-01’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed for plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitled Hemerocallis Plant Named ‘Spd 06-02’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,181), Hemerocallis Plant Named ‘Spd 06-08’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/134,126), Hemerocallis Plant Named ‘Spd 06-11’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/134,151), Hemerocallis Plant Named ‘Spd 06-12’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/134,127), Hemerocallis Plant Named ‘Spd 06-13’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/134,125), and Hemerocallis Plant Named ‘Spd 06-16’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/134,149).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis plant of hybrid origin, botanically known as Hemerocallis ‘SPd 06-01’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘SPd 06-01’.

The new cultivar was developed through on on-going breeding program conducted by the Inventor in McIntosh, Fla. The objectives of the breeding program are to develop new cultivars of tetraploid Hemerocallis that exhibit early and continuous flowering on recurrent, branched scapes with high bud counts and flowers that fully open during cool conditions, have bright flower color, heavy petal substance, and clean shedding of the old flowers to allow new buds to fully develop. Further objectives of the breeding program include developing plants that exhibit a high multiplication rate, short blooms stalks, foliage that is grass-like and compact, cold and heat hardiness and resistance to daylily rust.

The Inventor made crosses in summer of 2005 between specific unnamed proprietary male and female parents in his breeding line and pooled all the resulting seed from his crosses and evaluated the resulting seedlings based on the objectives of the breeding program. ‘SPd 06-01’ was selected as a single unique plant from the resulting seedlings in summer of 2006. The specific parents are unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by division in McIntosh, Fla. in 2006 by the Inventor. Propagation by division and tissue culture has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of ‘SPd 06-01’. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘SPd 06-01’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis.

-   -   1. ‘SPd 06-01’ exhibits flowers that are about 12 cm in diameter         and are coral pink in color with rosy-red eyezones and green         throats.     -   2. ‘SPd 06-01’ exhibits flower petals that are broadly elliptic         in shape, heavy in substance, and have lightly ruffled edges.     -   3. ‘SPd 06-01’ exhibits a blooming habit that commences very         early in the season with continuous re-bloom until frost on         recurrent, branched scapes with high bud counts.     -   4. ‘SPd 06-01’ exhibits flowers that fully open under cool         growing conditions and cleanly shed spent flowers to allow new         buds to fully develop.     -   5. ‘SPd 06-01’ has foliage that is evergreen, semi-evergreen or         dormant depending on the growing climate, which allows its         suitability to a variety of growing climates.     -   6. ‘SPd 06-01’ is a tetraploid.     -   7. ‘SPd 06-01’ exhibits a compact plant habit with grass-like         foliage with short blooms scapes that allow for ease of         transporting of finished plants.     -   8. ‘SPd 06-01’ is readily propagated by division or tissue         culture and exhibits a fast multiplication rate (fan increase).     -   9. ‘SPd 06-01’ is cold and heat hardy at least in U.S.D.A. Zones         4 to 11.     -   10. ‘SPd 06-01’ exhibits a very high tolerance to daylily rust         (Puccinia hemerocallidis).

The new cultivar can be compared in flower coloration to the cultivars ‘Black Preppy Pink’ (not patented) and ‘Sirocco’ (not patented). Both cultivars differ from ‘SPd 06-01’ in having foliage that goes dormant under all conditions, in having taller flower scapes, in having less flowers that are smaller in size and do not open fully in cold weather, in blooming later in the season with less recurrent blooming, in having wider and taller foliage that lacks daylily rust resistance, and in having a slower multiplication rate. ‘SPd 06-01’ can also be most closely compared to cultivars from the same breeding program. These cultivars differ from ‘Spd 06-01’ primarily in flower coloration. ‘SPd 06-02’ exhibits flowers that are golden yellow in color with maroon to burgundy red eyezones, ‘SPd 06-08’ exhibits flowers that are peach to melon in color with tangerine and pink highlights, ‘SPd 06-11’ exhibits flowers that are tomato red in color with a yellow-green throat, ‘SPd 06-12’ exhibits flowers that are burgundy rose in color with a darker burgundy eye, ‘SPd 06-13’ exhibits flowers that are light yellow in color, ‘SPd 06-16’ exhibits flowers that are golden yellow in color with a gold-green throat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Hemerocallis. The photographs were taken in early spring of a two year-old plant of ‘SPd 06-01’ as grown outdoors in a field plot from a single fan in McIntosh, Fla. without fungicide treatment, growth regulators or deadheading.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates its early flowering, grass-like foliage, high bud counts, short scapes, and self-cleaning of blooms of ‘SPd 06-01’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘SPd 06-01’. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the new Hemerocallis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of a 2 year-old plant of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a 1-gallon container in McIntosh, Fla. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General characteristics:     -   -   Blooming period.—Commencing in March and recurrent until             frost in Florida.         -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, compact grass-like             foliage.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 35 cm in height and 30 cm             in spread, flower scapes up to 35 cm in height.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 11.         -   Diseases and pests.—Has been observed to be very tolerant to             daylily rust (Puccinia hemerocallidis).         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots.         -   Propagation.—Division and tissue culture.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous with a high multiplication rate (5             fans per fan per season). -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear, grass-like.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Sheathed to crown.         -   Leaf apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Longitudinal, parallel, not prominent, same             color as leaves.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sheathed, not petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Equitant, fan-shaped.         -   Leaf orientation.—Held upright and slightly pendulant from             mid section towards apex once matured.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous to slightly glaucous.         -   Leaf color.—Young leaves (upper and lower surface); a blend             of 144A and 146A, mature leaves (upper and lower surface); a             blend of N137B and 137B.         -   Leaf size.—Up to 50 cm in length, an average of 1.6 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—About 75 leaves per 1-gallon container. -   Flower scape description:     -   -   Scape shape.—Round, slightly ovoid, pithy.         -   Scape number.—1 to 2 per fan at one time, continuously             produced until frost.         -   Scape aspect.—Straight, held upright to 45° from upright.         -   Scape size.—An average of 35 cm in length and 1.1 cm in             width, with branch portion an average of 8 cm in length and             6 mm in width.         -   Scape color.—A blend of 138A and 144A.         -   Scape surface.—Glabrous, slightly glaucous.         -   Scape branching.—1 to 2 branches per scape, internode length             about 3 cm.         -   Scape leaves.—1 per branch point, 146B in color turning             papery and 165C with striped vein that are 177A in color,             1.6 cm to 5.6 cm in length, 1 cm to 1.9 cm in width,             sheathed base, acuminate apex, glabrous to slightly glaucous             surface. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Branched scape bearing a cluster of             single flowers, 1 to 2 flowers open at a time.         -   Inflorescence size.—Varies with opening of flowers, an             average of 15 cm in width and 15 cm in depth.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—About 24 hours, self cleaning.         -   Flower size.—An average of 8 cm in depth and 12 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower number.—16 to 20 per branched scape.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower bud.—Oblong in shape, an average of 6.5 cm in length             and 2.2 cm in width, color; 165D suffused with 144B at base             and apex.         -   Flower attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petal number.—3.         -   Petal shape.—Broadly elliptic.         -   Petal color.—Upper surface 37D with wide eyezone a blend of             185B and 185C and throat 15A, lower surface a blend of 37D             and 14C.         -   Petal surface.—Glabrous, waxy, mid-vein grooved in upper             surface.         -   Petal margins.—Entire, strongly crenate, lightly ruffled.         -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.         -   Petal size.—Average of 8 cm in length and 5 cm in width.         -   Petal aspect.—Slightly recurved.         -   Sepal number.—3.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate, moderately recurved.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire, ruffled.         -   Sepal size.—Average of 8.5 cm in length, 2.5 cm in width.         -   Sepal aspect.—Moderately recurved.         -   Sepal surface.—Glaucous, slightly pearlescent.         -   Sepal apex.—Round.         -   Sepal base.—Fused.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface 37D, lower surface a blend of 37D             and 14C.         -   Peduncles.—An average of 1.5 cm in length and 4 mm in width,             oval in shape, strong, color is a blend of 138A and 144A,             held at about 20° relative to stem.         -   Pedicels.—An average of 5 mm in length and 4 mm in width,             oval in shape, strong and stout, color a blend of 138A and             144A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, about 11 cm in length and 3 to 5 mm in             width, base 8C in color, apex 29C in color, stigmas;             capitate, 14A in color, ovary; 1 cm in length and 5 mm in             width, 144B in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; 6, anthers; 7 mm in length and 2 mm in             width, N166B in color; filament; 5.5 cm in length, 4 mm in             width at base and tapered to 1.5 mm at tip, base 163C and             apex 168C in color, pollen; abundant in quantity and 17A in             color.         -   Fruit/seeds.—None observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hemerocallis plant named ‘SPd 06-01’ as herein illustrated and described. 